Letters to the editor
Posted on Sunday, September 30, 2007
Atheists misunderstood
The recent column from [John ] Terry of Siloam Springs on the subject of atheism displays many of the common misconceptions about nonbelievers. Mr. Terry says that atheists make themselves into their own gods, that they cannot be passionate about things, and — one of the three “ dangers” that Terry sees with atheism — the nonbeliever has no moral restraints and may become a pedophile, a thief, or some such criminal.
In fact, atheists do not consider themselves gods. They are often passionate about many things, and by a wide margin they have a disproportionately low representation in prisons, suggesting either that they commit fewer crimes than other religious demographic groups or that they are less likely to be caught breaking the law. I suspect it is the former. I have met hundreds of professed atheists and they tend to be a very intelligent, friendly, and law-abiding crowd. Perhaps Mr. Terry would like to visit a local skeptics meeting where many atheists are in attendance and see how his stereotypes are mistaken. The Fayetteville Freethinkers meet every last Saturday of the month in the Fayetteville Public Library at 2 p. m. All are welcome. Doug Krueger
Fayetteville Energy bill more harm than good We need to let Congress know that we are paying close attention to the [energy ] bill that is currently being presented in conference committee. I do not agree with the outdated policies they are trying to push. The bill includes provisions such as adding price caps and increasing taxes on the energy companies. America is based on a free market and it should remain that way. Taxation and regulation is not the solution to getting cheaper gas prices. As with all industries, when they have to shell out more money for taxes the price of their product will end up rising as well. We rely on energy companies for nearly everything. An increase in their taxes will lead to higher prices in gas, utilities, groceries and almost everything we need. The cost of transporting our goods would go up, so we would pay more to shop.
It is obvious that this bill is going to do more harm than good. We are overdue for change and it is time that our Congress focuses on what matters the most and propose more sound energy policies. Gwen Cunningham
Fayetteville Don’t allow inflammatory words It is a duty of University of Arkansas faculty to anticipate potential threats to minority students. In light of recent incidents at Delaware and Virginia Tech, I must regard a Sept. 22, 2007, column in the Northwest Arkansas Times as such. I would be unable to forgive myself if injury were to come to students under my care when it could have been avoided. All Fayetteville and UA leaders surely feel similarly. A Times columnist, John Terry, wrote words that threaten some of the very best students (as well as faculty ) at the UA when he said that members of atheist minorities were likely to become pedophiles, murderers, or “ any other deviant you can think of” with “ no concern for... people or things around (them ). ” This comes after a new UA club named Occam’s Razors was founded and received coverage this past week in the Arkansas Traveler. As club faculty advisor, I share concern about such hateful rhetoric with the club president and UA law student, Kevin B. Metcalf. Metcalf is a former federal counter-terrorism law enforcement officer.
Mr. Metcalf and I were quite surprised by the number, diversity, and quality of students who signed up for Occam’s Razors and an informal straw poll revealed that atheists accounted for more than 80 percent of the membership of about 30 students. That is about the same percentage as that of atheists in the National Academy of Sciences, although only about half our members are actually science majors.
Stated simply, we want to protect these wonderfully bright and thoughtful students.
Fayetteville and the university will remain a haven of diversity and free thought only if its population is not threatened by ignorance and bigotry. The Terry screed goes well beyond First Amendment free-press rights and into the realm of shouting “ fire ” in a crowded theater.
The shooting in Virginia involved a student who had untreated psychiatric problems and was unable to... make rational decisions. Incendiary remarks like those in Terry’s column may have the potential to move someone to action.... Insinuating that atheists are potential pedophiles, murders, thieves, or other kinds of deviants could easily provoke an irrational response in certain people. Such insinuations are wrong, particularly, since there is absolutely no evidence to support such claims.
Our students need to be free from inflammatory rhetoric that might incite an unbalanced zealot or a zealous (or jealous ) student mob to mayhem. Club meetings are widely advertised and free for all. It should not become necessary (as it has in parts of the Middle-East ) to hire a bodyguard at a university simply because one is engaged in critical study or thinking. Therefore, I would ask all Fayetteville and UA officers to reconsider security issues. This should begin by asking the Northwest Arkansas Times editor Greg Harton and columnist John Terry to account for their intentions and intended readership and to apologize to our students and faculty. Unless the Times can back up what they publish they should refrain from using such incendiary remarks. William Harter
Fayetteville Mayor an elitist OK, we the citizens of Fayetteville understand [Mayor Dan Coody ] now. If you don’t conform to the mayor’s idea of a model citizen, then you don’t belong in Fayetteville. First it was the smokers that piqued the mayor’s ire. Now it’s the bikers. The mayor doesn’t like revving motorcycle engines. The new ordinance, which failed the first time it was proposed, was re-submitted by our mayor only to pass this time. Undoubtedly, it would have been resubmitted until it did pass. I wonder if the mayor has ever been on a motorcycle. Does he know that there are some engines out there that require revving to keep oil circulating through the engine ? Does Mr. Mayor plan to spike the city’s coffers with fines for revving during Bikes, Blues and BBQ ? Is that how he plans to move the venue from Dickson Street out to the Tyson track ? Good bye BB & BBQ. I think it’s time to see Dan Coody for what he is: An elitist with a personal agenda for his idea of how Fayetteville should act. Jim Sheldon
Fayetteville
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